Checkback system for visual and audible indication of detected processes

ABSTRACT

A checkback system for visual and audible indication of detected processes comprises a mosaic switchboard assembly having a plurality of identical modules. Each of the modules provides a continuous visual signal when it is in inoperative condition and an intermittent visual signal when it is in operative condition.

United States Patent Wildgruber '[54] CHECKDACK SYSTEM FOR VISUAL ANDAUDIBLE INDICATION OF DETECTED PROCESSES [72] Inventor: Otto Wlldgruber,Erlangen, Germany [73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschait, Berlin,Germany [22 Filed: f Nov. 3, 1969 [21 AppLNo; 873,456

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data A Nov. 14, 1968 Germany ..P 1s 08773.5

[521 u.s.c|......

[ Feb. 22, 1972 Arrasmith..; ..340/213.l

5/1961 I 3,229,274 1/1966 Riley et al.. ...317/l55.5 X 3,234,541 2/1966Paull ..340/2l3.1 X 3,264,499 8/1966 Moser et al. ..317/155.5 X3,365,622 1/1968 Pearse ...317/l55.5 X 3,427,521 2/1969 Goldstein..317/155.5 X

Primary Examiner-Thomas B. Habecker Attorney-Curt M. Avery, Arthur E(Wilfond, Herbert L.

Lerner and Daniel J. Tick 7 ABSTRACT A checkback system for visual andaudible indication of detectedprocesses comprises a mosaic switchboardassembly having a plurality of identical modules. Each of the modules.provides a continuous visual signal when it is in inoperative conditionand an intermittent visual signal when it is in opera- 4 Claims, 1Drawing Figure Patented Feb. 22, 1972 CI-IECKBACK SYSTEM FOR VISUAL ANDAUDIBLE INDICATION OF DETECTED PROCESSES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a checkback system for detecting variousprocesses. More particularly, the invention relates to acheckback'system for visual and audible indication of detectedprocesses. a

In order to supervise or control the various functions or operations ofan electrical installation, pilot or conditionresponsive switches areprovided at many locations of the installation. The pilot switches areswitched in position or condition when the position or condition ofanother switch varies upon the exceeding of the permissible operatingtemperature, the occurrence of deviations in velocity of machines, andso on. In order to evaluate the processes or operations detected by thepilot switches, a large-scale electrical installation is provided with amonitor or supervising board at one locality thereof. The monitorboardconverts the variations in the switch positions or conditions ofthe pilot switches of the installation to visual and audible signals.

With regard to the foregoing, it is known to connect pilot lamps, whichprovide a visual indication of individual signals, to an intermittentsource of energy at a time such signals arrive. This results inintermittent energization or blinking of the pilot lamps. After thevisual indication is acknowledged, the blinking light is changed to acontinuous or steady light. This is accomplished by the operation of anacknowledging switch or key. The continuous light remains on for as longas the signal is present.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcheckback system for visual and audible indication of detectedprocesses.

An object of the invention is to provide a checkback system for visualand audible indication of detected processes which utilizes a singlerelay.

An object of the invention is to provide a checkback system for visualand audible indication of detected processes, which system is of simplestructure, but functions with efficiency, effectiveness and reliability.

An object of the invention is to provide a checkback system for visualand audible indication of detected processes, which system comprises amosaic switchboard assembly comprising a plurality of modules, eachmodule having a single relay and a single pilot lamp controlled thereby.

In accordance with the invention, a checkback system for visual andaudible indication of detected processes comprises a plurality ofidentical circuits. Each of the circuits comprises a relay having twostable conditions, first and second energizing windings interconnectedby no more than one pole, and a relay switch contact controlled by thewindings, the relay switch contact having two closed positions. A pilotswitch has an open position and a closed position. A capacitor is connected in series circuit arrangement with the pilot switch and one endof the first winding of the relay. A source of DC energizing voltage hasa positive polarity terminal and a negative polarity terminal. Theseries circuit arrangement is connected to the positive polarityterminal of the DC energizing voltage source. A coupling couples one endof the second winding of the relay to the positive polarity terminal ofthe energizing voltage source. The coupling includes an acknowledgingswitch having an open position and a closed position provided in commonfor the circuits. The second winding is connected to the positivepolarity terminal of the DC energizing voltage source via theacknowledging switch. A further coupling couples the other end of eachof the first and second windings of the relay to the negative polarityterminal of the DC energizing voltage source. A source of intermittentvoltage is provided. A pilot lamp is connected in series circuitarrangement with the switch contact of the relay between the other endof the first winding of the relay and a common point in the connectionbetween the pilot switch and the capacitor when the switch contact is inone of its closed positions. Thereby, in the inoperative condition ofthe checkback system, the pilot lamp is connected to the pilot switchand is continuously energized, whereas in the operative condition of thecheckback system, the pilot lamp is intermittently energized via thesource of intermittent voltage when the switchcontact is in its otherclosed position.

Each of the circuits comprises a module and the modules comprise amosaic switchboard assembly.

The coupling includes another capacitor. The relay has a second relayswitch contact having two closed positions. Each module of the checkbacksystem further comprises another capacitor and an audible alarm relayconnected in series circuit arrangement with the second switch contactbetween the positive and negative polarity terminals of the source of DCenergizing voltage when the second relay switch contact of the relay isin one of its closed positions upon energization of the relay.

In order that my invention may be readily carried into effect, it willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein thesingle FIGURE is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the checkbacksystem of the invention.

The FIGURE illustrates a mosaic switchboard assembly comprising aplurality of modules M1, M2, and so forth. Each module M1, M2, and soon, is identical and each comprises the checkback system of theinvention. Since the modules M 1, M2, and so on, are identical, theinvention will be described with reference to the module M1. The moduleM1 is provided with a pilot or indicating switch MK] and the module M2is provided with a pilot or indicating switch MK2.

The modules M1, M2, and so on, are supplied in common with a DCenergizing voltage from a DC energizing voltage source having a positivepolarity terminal P and a negative polarity terminal N. A lamp-testingbus bar LP is utilized to test the lamp 12 of the module M1 and thecorresponding lamps of the other modules. An acknowledgement bus bar Quis utilized to energize a common acknowledgement switch qu. A source ofintermittent voltage is connected to an intermittentbus bar BL. Anaudible alarm l-Iu, which may comprises any suitable audible alarm suchas, for example, a buuer or horn, provides an audible signal, in common,for all the modules M1, M2, and so on. The audible alarm l-Iu isconnected between the positive and negative polarity terminals P and Nof the source of energizing voltage in series circuit arrangement with arelay switch contact hl of an audible alarm relay H.

The energizing winding of the audible alarm relay H is connected inseries circuit arrangement with another relay switch contact h2 and anaudible alarm silencing switch ha between the positive and negativepolarity terminals P and N of the source of energizing voltage. Theaudible alarm relay H controls the relay switch contacts hl and k2 inposition. The relay switch contact h2 functions as a self-holdingcontact for the audible alarm relay H. The audible alarm relay winding His energized via an audible-alarm bus bar HS. The audible alarm bus barHS is connected to an output terminal 1 of the module M1, and an outputterminal 1' of the module M2, and so on.

When the audible alarm Hu is to be operated or actuated, an inputterminal 2 of the module Ml, an input terminal 2 of the module M2 andthe corresponding input terminal of each of the other modules, has apositive potential applied thereto. A capacitor 3 is connected in seriescircuit arrangement with the input terminal 2. The series circuitarrangement of the input terminal 2 of the capacitor 3 is connected tothe fixed end of a relay switch contact r2 of a relay R of the moduleM1. The relay switch contact r2 has two closed positions. In one closedposition, which is opposite to that shown in the FIGURE, the relayswitch contact r2 connects the input terminal 2 to the outputterminal 1. In the other closed position of the relay switch contact r2,which is that shown in the FIGURE, said relay switch contact connectsthe capacitor 3 to a discharge resistor 4.

The relay R has two stable conditions and includes first and secondenergizing windings interconnected by no more than one pole. Thus, whenthe relay R is in its deenergized or nonoperative condition, thedischarge resistor 4 is connected in parallel with the capacitor 3 viathe relay switch contact r2 of said relay. The relay R also has a relayswitch contact r1 having two closed positions. An incoming signalswitches over the relay R. If a current pulse is then provided from thepositive polarity terminal P to the negative polarity terminal N, viathe capacitor 3, the audible alarm bus bar HS and the audible alarmrelay winding I-l, said audible alarm relay winding is energized andswitches the relay switch contact hl to its position opposite that shownin the FIGURE. This connects the 7 when a signal is present. When thepilot switch MKl is switched to its closed position it connects theinput terminal 5 of its corresponding module, which is the module M1 inthis case, to the positive polarity terminal P of the source ofenergizing voltage. A capacitor 6 is connected in series circuitarrangement with the input terminal 5 to one end of the first of the twowindings of the relay R. The relay R has two stable end positions andone of its windings must be excited or energized for a brief period oftime in order to switch over the relay.

The other end of the first of the windings of the relay R is connectedto the negative polarity terminal N of the source of energizing voltagevia an output terminal 7. A capacitor 8 is connected in series circuitarrangement with an input terminal 9 to one end of the second of the twowindings of the relay R. 1

The input terminal 9 is connected directly to the acknowledging bus barQu. A discharge resistor 10 is connected in parallel with the seriescircuit arrangement of the capacitor 8 and the second winding of therelay R.

The capacitor 6 discharges via a current path which includes a diode 11,the relay switch contact r1 in its position shown in the FIGURE, a pilotlamp 12 and the first winding of the relay R. The pilot lamp 12 isbetween the output terminal 7 and the fixed contact of the relayswitchcontact r1. When the relay switch contact r1 is in its position shown inthe FIGURE, said relay switch contact and the pilot or indicating lamp12 are connected in series circuit arrangement with a diode 13 and aninput terminal 14 of the module M1. The input terminal 14 is connectedto the lamp-testing bus bar LP. The lamp-testing bus bar LP is connectedto the positive polarity terminal P of the source of energizing voltagevia a lamp-testing switch LPr which isprovided in common for all themodules of the switchboard assembly.

When the relay switch contact r1 is switched to its other closedposition, opposite that shown in the FIGURE, said relay switch contact,the pilot lamp 12 and an input terminal 15 of the module Ml areconnected in series circuit arrangement and said series circuitarrangement is connected directly to the intermittent voltage bus barBL. An output terminal 16 is provided to deliver a group signal to acentral point or to some other remote location. The output terminal 16is connected to the input terminal 15 via a diode 17, so that a positivepotential'is provided when the corresponding pilot or indicating switchMKl is switched to its closed position.

The checkback system of my invention functions or operates in thefollowing manner. When the pilot or indicating switch MK], MKZ, closesor is switched to its closed position, opposite its position shown inthe FIGURE, a current pulse flows from the positive polarity terminal Pto the negative polarity terminal N via the capacitor 6 and the firstwinding of the relay R. Asa result, the relay R is switched to itsoperative condition and controls its relay switch contact r1 and r2 sothat said relay switch contacts are moved to their closed positionsopposite those shown in the FIGURE. The relay switch contact r1 thusconnects the pilot lamp 12 to the intermittent voltage bus bar BL viaone pole and the input terminal 15. The pilot lamp 12 is thusintermittently energized or lighted.

The relay switch contact r2 transmits a current pulse from the positivepolarity terminal P to the negative polarity ter minal N via thecapacitor 3, the audible alarm bus bar HS and the audible alarm relay H.The audible alarm relay H is thus energized or excited and therebycontrols its relay switch contact H1 so that said relay switch contactis moved to its closed position opposite that shown in the FIGURE. Whenthe relay switch H1 is in its closed position, opposite that shown inthe v FIGURE, it energizes the audible alarm Hu. The audible alarm I-Iuproduces an audible signal, and continues to produce such audible signaluntil acknowledgement is made by depressing the switch ha. When theswitch ha is depressed it opens the energizing circuit of the audiblealarm relay H.

When the operator recognizes the signal or information, he depresses theacknowledgement switch qu. The acknowledging switch qu is connectedbetween the acknowledging bus bar Qu and the positive polarity terminalP of the source of energizing voltage, via the relay switch contact hl,when said relay switch contact is in its closed position, shown in theFIGURE. When the acknowledging switch qu is depressed, a positivepotential is thus applied to the acknowledging bus bar Qu, therebyapplying a positive potential to the input terminal 9 of each of themodules. Thus, a current flows through the capacitor 8 and the secondwinding of the relay R of each of the modules. .The relay R is therebyswitched over again to its deenergized nonoperative condition and thepilot lamp 12 is connected in single-pole connection with the pilot orindicating switch MK] via the relay switch contact r1, which is switchedto its closed position, shown in the FIGURE. If a signal is stillpresent, the pilot lamp 12 will remain continuously energized orlighted. If a signal is no longer present, the pilot lamp 12. willbecome deenergized and will go out.

Instead of utilizing the capacitor 8 to switch the relay R back to itsdeenergized condition, with the assistance of the common acknowledgingswitch qu, it is possible to utilize a series resistor. The seriesresistor must have a resistance value which, together with theresistance of the relay winding, is such that current flowing via theseries connection will be low enough so that the switchover of the relayis prevented when the pilot switch MKl is closed, during theacknowledging operation.

It is thus possible to produce two different signal conditions in thesingle pilot or indicating lamp 12 in the checkback system of theinvention by utilizing the single relay R having two stable conditions.Furthermore, the operation or energization of the relay R, which iseffected only by current pulses, results in the power requirement beingdependent only upon the energy which is applied to the pilot lamp 12.This permits the installation'of the relay R and the pilot lamp 12, aswell as the "other circuit components, into a module without too muchthermal stress. Thus, the installation of the modules into a mosaicswitchboard assembly eliminates the need for addi-. tional wiringexpense or supporting members for the relays in the construction of themosaic modules.

In order to determine whether all the pilot lamps 12 of the individualmodules are in good condition, a positive potential may be applied tothe lamp-testing bus bar LP by depressing the lamp-testing switch LPr. Apositive potential will then be applied to all the pilot lamps 12 whosecorresponding relays R are in deenergized condition. The potentialisapplied via the input terminal 14 and the diode 13 of each module. Sincethe remaining pilot lamps are intermittently energized, in any 7 case,all of said lamps must be energized when the lamp-test- 16 of the moduleis decoupled by the diode 17, so that the output terminals 16 of all themodules may be combined and delivered as a group signal, to a centralpoint.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific exampleand in a specific embodiment, i do not wish to be limited thereto, forobvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A checkback system for visual and audible indication of detectedprocesses, said checkback system comprising a plurality of identicalcircuits, each of said circuits comprising a relay having two stableconditions, first and second energizing windings interconnected by nomore than one pole, and a relay switch contact controlled by saidwindings, said relay switch contact having two closed positions;

a pilot switch having an open position and a closed position;

a capacitor connected in series circuit arrangement with said pilotswitch and one end of the first winding of said relay;

a source of DC energizing voltage having a positive polarity terminaland a negative polarity terminal, said series circuit arrangement beingconnected to the positive polarity terminal of said DC energizingvoltage source;

coupling means coupling-one end of the second winding of said relay tothe positive polarity terminal of said DC energizing voltage source,said coupling means including an acknowledging switch having an openposition and a closed position provided in common for said circuits,said second winding being connected to the positive polarity terminal ofsaid DC energizing voltage source via said acknowledging switch;

further coupling means coupling .the other end of each of the first andsecond windings of said relay to thenegative polarity terminal of saidDC energizing voltage source;

a source of intermittent voltage; and

a pilot lamp connected in series circuit arrangement with the switchcontact of said relay between said other end of the first winding ofsaid relay and a common point in the connection between said pilotswitch and said capacitor when said switch contact is in one of itsclosed positions whereby in the inoperative condition of said checkbacksystem said pilot lamp is connected to said pilot switch and iscontinuously energized when said pilot switch is in its closed position,whereas in the operative condition of said checkback system said pilotlamp is intermittently energized via said source of intermittent voltagewhen said switch contact is in its other closed position.

1. A checkback system for visual and audible indication of detectedprocesses, said checkback system comprising a plurality of identicalcircuits, each of said circuits comprising a relay having two stableconditions, first and second energizing windings interconnected by nomore than one pole, and a relay switch contact controlled by saidwindings, said relay switch contact having two closed positions; a pilotswitch having an open position and a closed position; a capacitorconnected in series circuit arrangement with said pilot switch and oneend of the first winding of said relay; a source of DC energizingvoltage having a positive polarity terminal and a negative polarityterminal, said series circuit arrangement being connected to thepositive polarity terminal of said DC energizing voltage source;coupling means coupling one end of the second winding of said relay tothe positive polarity terminal of said DC energizing voltage source,said coupling means including an acknowledging switch having an openposition and a closed position provided in common for said circuits,said second winding being connected to the positive polarity terminaL ofsaid DC energizing voltage source via said acknowledging switch; furthercoupling means coupling the other end of each of the first and secondwindings of said relay to the negative polarity terminal of said DCenergizing voltage source; a source of intermittent voltage; and a pilotlamp connected in series circuit arrangement with the switch contact ofsaid relay between said other end of the first winding of said relay anda common point in the connection between said pilot switch and saidcapacitor when said switch contact is in one of its closed positionswhereby in the inoperative condition of said checkback system said pilotlamp is connected to said pilot switch and is continuously energizedwhen said pilot switch is in its closed position, whereas in theoperative condition of said checkback system said pilot lamp isintermittently energized via said source of intermittent voltage whensaid switch contact is in its other closed position.